Chiropractors....what do you think?

[transparant]

I'm hearing other's opinions that are about 50/50 right now. What do you think? Have they helped you - if so how? Or have they not made a difference?

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm all for it! I was in a car accident that gave me some horrible low back pain and neck pain. I used a chiropractor for a couple of years. It always gave me immediate relief, but after a while, I didn't even need it anymore.

Now if I get some neck pain, my doctor will do it (he's an osteopath), but if it weren't for him I wouldn't hesitate to go back to a good chiropractor!

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

I saw a chiropractor becasue i had alot of tightness in my neck and shoulder. I felt so much better when they would crack my neck. I had traction therapy for my neck, but that bothered my neck more. I had heat therapy on my back and also deep tissue massage therapy on my neck and back. This was all done in the chiropractic office. After 3 months of 3 x a week therapy, I felt so much better. I still go in from time to time for an occassional crack for my neck.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

I went to a chiropracter for about 5 treatments and I'm convinced he was a quack. BUT I know many people who feel they have really been helped by chiropracters. I'm sure it depends on the diagnosis and on the individual chiropracter.

 

[FSUGrad97]

I think chiropracters are quacks, and if I needed this type of service, I would go to a physical therapist.

 

[jimmalru80]

It may not work for everybody but it works for me.

 

[ChristmasElf]

I think chiropracters are quacks, and if I needed this type of service, I would go to a physical therapist.

My sister spends a small fortune on going to the chiropracter and then complains that the relief only lasts for a couple of days-so she has to go back and spend more money. What a waste.

 

[justjulie]

I love my chiropractors and I was terrified to start going - now I really see the benefit. So much so, my kids go once a month for their adjustments and will ask to go in between if they need to - I think that speaks volumes.

 

[Buckalew11]

I've been seeing a chiropractor since I was 14. I am almost 42!
I have been helped soooo many times.

The latest was right before the 1/2 marathon this past month.

I went in and he worked on me basically from head to toe. He esp. focused on all that stuff around my knees (ligaments or whatever because I was having pain when I walked) and also my feet.

I am here to tell you that was on Wednesday and the 1/2 was on Saturday and I had NO PAIN during that 1/2. My knee did not hurt one time (even didin't hurt the rest of our week's trip!) nor did my feet hurt or burn or anything. I heard sooo many people around me that day complaining of their feet and legs hurting and burning. I have no idea whether it was my treatments or not, but because my knee had been hurting for months, I tend to think the chirpractor DID help. Why I didn't go in for a treatment before that, I do not know. I wish I had now.

I think you have to be very careful picking a doctor. There good ones and there are bad ones. I am not sure how you know until it is too late. But if I went to one who thought he could cure almost anything, I'd probably back out quickly.
I'm lucky. Mine doesn't charge me. So I have no reason to worry about that kind of thing with him.

Good luck!

 

[Cool-Beans]

There is no way on Earth that I'd allow anyone except a really good doctor (and I mean REALLY good) to play around with the bones surrounding my spine or neck. I'm fond of my Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems and wouldn't take the chance.

They accidentally break the wrong bone, you're Christopher Reeve.

But I fully support everyone else's right to do it if they feel it is best for them. Not trying to tell others what to do or put chiropractos out of business or anything.

eta: I didn't vote. No experience.

 

[PrincessKitty1]

My sister spends a small fortune on going to the chiropracter and then complains that the relief only lasts for a couple of days-so she has to go back and spend more money. What a waste.

Wow--speaking as somebody with a pretty nasty pain syndrome, I'm THRILLED that acupuncture gets me a couple of days of relief. Conventional medicine doesn't do cr@p for me, unfortunately, and I've spent a fortune going to MDs who can't help me except to throw some pills my way.

 

[Crankyshank]

I didn't vote because there wasn't an "it depends" option.

I think it depends on the problem. I have neck and upper back issues and the chiropractor visits didn't help. Massage therapy works a lot better for me.
The initially alignmentfelt great but after a few visits I started feeling worse. However, DH gets amazing relief from his back and joint issues after his visits.

 

[C.Ann]

There are some very good ones - and there are some very bad ones - same as your traditional doctors.. DD has always had great success with them..

 

[Saphire]

I think chiropracters are quacks, and if I needed this type of service, I would go to a physical therapist.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They have there place and they work for what I utilize them for (mostly neck/back adjustments). However some of my ailments when they come about--require a Physical Therapist to attend to and nothing a chiropractor will do will fix it due to the nature of the treatment to correct.

But they do have their place and they do work if you are using them properly for something that they would be helpful for.

That probably makes no sense--but it makes sense in my head.

There are quacks out there whom you must avoid at all costs though. I had one that took an x-ray and discovered I had SEVERE scoliosis. The x-ray looked like an upside down question mark with a huge "turn" in the spine. Personally I think they switched x-rays on me. I do have an ever so subtle curve...but nothing "severe".

My present chiro is not a quack though. And My PT who is EXCELLENT and has fixed problems noone else could...recognizes that chiropractors do have their place in treatment where they can be beneficial.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think chiropracters are quacks, and if I needed this type of service, I would go to a physical therapist.

Be careful with the PT's as well. I went to one who could not fix my problem as she had no idea what it was. A friend of mine who is a PT knew exactly what it was an fixed it...and she is an expert in manual therapy.

I've seen two "quack" PT's in my life and they are no picnic either.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My sister spends a small fortune on going to the chiropracter and then complains that the relief only lasts for a couple of days-so she has to go back and spend more money. What a waste.

Sometimes you have to go several times.

Even PT is not a one hit wonder. It takes several sessions for lasting relief. You can't just show up and a magic wand be waved.

I had to have my Psoas released to help correct a problem with my sacrum. I had to have it released about 2-3 times per week for about 2-3 weeks. With each "release" it took less time and was less painful. The last time they attempted to release it..it finally "took" and was no longer tight. That was with a Physical Therapist.

Noone calls them quacks--or a waste of money though.

 

[HOGFAN]

YES! I had chronic neck problems for years. conventional doctor couldnt help me(except giving me Flexeril, not a long term solution). yes, I had my doubts about chiros but mine REALLY helped me. I can actually move my neck and no pain. Just require an occasional adjustment.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

I literally would not be walking today if not for Chiropractic! There are many different approaches to it and qualities of practitioner but if you get the right one, he/she can change your life! When I get any kind of pain, not just back pain......foot, leg, arm etc... I go to the chiropractor. If that doesn't relieve it, I'll consider an alternative. But, in at least 15 years, that hasn't been necessary.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I adore my chiropractor! when I was pregnant with 3 of my children I saw him about once a month. I have a lot of hip and cyatic (sp?) problems. If it weren't for the chiro I would not be able to walk while pregnant.
One time I was at the store and when I went to get into my car I turned the wrong way. Bam hip was out of place and I could not move. I actually had to call my mom and grab the kids from school and come get me. My mom had to physically move me from my car to hers and drive me to the chiro. He adjusted my hip, gave me some heat therapy and I was able to get up and walk out of his office. I was sore for a few days but had full mobility.
My children also see them, from the day they are born. DS5 did something to his back, slept crooked or something, he was screaming! We were leaving for WDW the next day. He is not one to complain so we called the chiro and they wanted to see him immediately. He was having back spasms because his spine was out of alignment. They fixed him up, and had us alternate heat and ice for 20 minutes every hour. He was fine the next day.

You do have to make sure they are qualified and the doctor is the right one for you. Mine is really really gentle, my DH likes to see the one that is the next step up in aggressiveness. There are 2 in the practice that are really aggressive and we don't see them.